Contrary to popular belief, us consumers have a lot to say in terms of what companies manufacture and don’t manufacture. If we all stopped buying the poisonous cleaners that are churned out year after year, and start buying more earth friendly cleaners and products, those guys in their fancy chairs and lofty offices are going to have no choice but to get with the program.
Obviously there are some things we need that are not the most eco-friendly, but more and more green options are available and it’s our job to snap them up to send a message to the money grubbers that we care about the world and we want it to live and continue to support life a little longer.
But how can we tell which “green” products aren’t toxic to the planet?
If you live in Canada I wrote a similar piece about their Environmental Choice Eco-Logo and how that makes healthy household cleaners, detergents and the like. The list below takes things one step further.
It’s going to help you make the purchases that are better for the environment. Any product that has 2 or less checks on the list are a good choice, those that have more checks, not so much:
ONE- Is the item made using recycled materials?
TWO- Does it have recyclable packaging or is it made from it?
THREE- Is it made within 150 kilometres of where you live?
FOUR- On the packaging or bottle do you see a logo from a major environmental program, such as the Environmental Choice or Energy Star logo, or that of the Forest Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council?
FIVE- Is the product durable and able to be reused?
SIX- If there is anything left after use is it compostable or recyclable?
SEVEN- Does it do the work of several products? (eg. all purpose cleaners cuts the need to have so many bottles of cleaners around the house. Less use less waste)
EIGHT- Are replacement parts available so you can maintain the product without having to buy a new one?
NINE- Was the product manufactured using a renewable energy source? (eg. solar, wind or sustainable hydro)
TEN- Are the materials those that can be sustainably grown and harvested? (eg. bamboo is better than wood)
ELEVEN- Is the product free of toxic and/or harmful materials? (eg. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, heavy metals, antibacterial chemicals or phosphates –lots of soap has phosphates)
Print out this handy check list and keep it in your purse or wallet and use it the next time you go shopping. It’s a fast and easy way for you to determine with household (and beyond) products are eco-friendly and actually not harmful to the planet.
32 responses so far ↓
1 website design company // Sep 1, 2009 at 2:38 am
Thanks for the post.The points you have mentioned here are very important.It’s a very essential issue you have discussed and raised the awareness of people in the process.
2 Sourav // Sep 2, 2009 at 5:22 am
Often while products we just look at the green symbol printed on the product to show whether that product is vegetarian or not but we should remember the other points too which are mentioned above.
Thanks
3 will from packaging supplier // Sep 4, 2009 at 2:54 am
Greatest post, all points most important in our life. Thanks for sharing with us.
4 Same from Shenandoah bed and breakfast // Sep 4, 2009 at 2:58 am
Excellent post, you post is really evocative for me. I have learned more! I liked it very much.
5 Latest fashion trends // Sep 5, 2009 at 6:58 am
As you said we have to check whether the materials those that can be sustainably grown and harvested and also whether the product is free of toxic and harmful materials.
6 Ray // Sep 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Thanks for the eleven tips. This is wonderful and I was needing this info.
7 biometric time clock // Sep 10, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Great post. So many companies try to sell their products as green when in fact they’ve only made a bit of the effort.
Always pay attention!
8 matt from get rid of warts // Sep 22, 2009 at 2:04 am
I can’t agree with you more!!! I have stopped shopping at Super markets because I hate the way the treat farmers and force farmers into using chemicals just so the food look perfect AND the throw away tons of food every year.
My wife and I now go in on a co-op where we get 100% locally grown organic veg and fruit.
We are also now trying to source green cleaning chemical and are now read all labels before we spend our money, as we no longer want to support Corporates!!
Thanks and keep up the great posts
9 Outdoor Lighting // Sep 23, 2009 at 7:27 am
Thanks for sharing. Awareness about econ friendly produts and environment has become essential nowadays.
10 Auctions // Sep 23, 2009 at 11:12 pm
This is absolute marketing and branding genius.
11 Turning Winds // Sep 24, 2009 at 5:46 am
Thanks for sharing the tips. These are just simple steps in order for each one of us even our children will know how to determine eco friendly products.
12 first health // Sep 28, 2009 at 9:17 am
i think this is a useful article.getting good and nutricious food will definitely extend our lifes
13 Home Lighting // Oct 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Its is the time to adopt this or it will be too late
14 fair trade coffee beans // Oct 6, 2009 at 3:08 am
Some companies will only buy in products that have come by boat and refuse to take items that are flown in.
15 Vegan Shop // Oct 16, 2009 at 9:16 am
People mistakenly believe that buying green products will not have a great impact, but the power of the consumer is immense. Even a small shift in buying habits can make companies sit up and take notice.
16 The Pest Exterminator // Oct 16, 2009 at 5:50 pm
great post! Seriously, these eleven tips are great even when looking for organic pest control products
17 Carpet Cleaning Sydney // Oct 18, 2009 at 8:55 pm
That’s a great reading we use all green products in our Carpet Cleaning Sydney company we believe that green products not only are better for us and our clients but the environment as well.
18 Cars For Sale // Oct 20, 2009 at 3:42 am
Nice Greenary…I recently came across your blog and i have been reading alone.This is fantastic information for blog. I really love the way…
19 Amrita // Oct 24, 2009 at 7:21 am
Excellent Points. I will definitely keep these points in mind.
20 monikaSEO from Medical billing companies // Nov 10, 2009 at 3:45 am
nice article .thanks for sharing these tremendous tips.i keep all your tips.
21 Tiens store // Nov 16, 2009 at 10:40 am
Great tips,thanks for this post, I really enjoyed it! This post was really interesting – thanks so much for sharing! This post really made me stop and think. Awesome job.
22 cashman // Nov 18, 2009 at 12:01 am
great information thank you
23 monikaSEO from Practice management software // Nov 21, 2009 at 7:10 am
I drink green tea almost every day. Used to drink coffee but lately I’ve stopped drinking it and replaced it with green tea which is very good.really appreciate your post got good points here.
24 monikaSNV from glass plates // Nov 25, 2009 at 3:48 am
green product are very useful for our health.as i gone through your post i got good points here.well it is not easy to get good contents when you really need them as there is so much junk on the internet.really great site.
25 Eden from Used truck mounts // Dec 22, 2009 at 5:25 am
Great post, thanks! Me and the wife are going to use these great ideas
26 Essays // Dec 27, 2009 at 5:29 am
Great post, I will follow it,
27 Degree // Dec 28, 2009 at 10:41 am
thanks for the information, very nice post, thanks for sharing it.
28 wahl clippers // Dec 29, 2009 at 6:47 am
Great list thanks. I know that many so-called green products are not at all because of the huge transport costs to get them from the ethical sources to the consumer!
29 Cottages to Rent // Dec 30, 2009 at 4:08 am
Great one…a world with full greenery,just think of it…
30 Jonny from registry cleaner reviews // Jan 14, 2010 at 8:02 am
EIGHT- I just buy some product are replacement parts available without having to buy a new one.
31 Connie Munoz // Feb 6, 2010 at 12:27 pm
You are doing a good job. People should see first if they are buying an eco fiendly product or not. Great advice.
32 jinnie from children sleepwalking // Feb 23, 2010 at 3:51 am
Health is a lifetime assets so if anyone want to earn it for his better life then he have to work for it. So does not need a several hours work out, i think one hour is well enough in a day. As we see that life is becoming so busy and people have no time to take their food so how they will manage this one hour in their life, but they want a good health then they have to pay attention.Those green products some times help full from the health point of view.Anyways keep it up and keep continue with your valuable thoughts.
Leave a Comment